FSNotes
A modern, fast, and lightweight notes manager for macOS and iOS with Markdown-first design and iCloud/Dropbox sync.
What is FSNotes?
FSNotes is a modern notes manager for macOS and iOS, built with a Markdown-first approach and designed for speed and simplicity. It allows users to create, organize, and sync notes across devices using iCloud Drive or Dropbox, with support for encryption, versioning, and external editing.
Apple ecosystem users (macOS and iOS) who prefer plaintext or Markdown-based note-taking, value keyboard efficiency, and need reliable cloud synchronization.
Developers choose FSNotes for its lightweight performance, strong Markdown and plaintext support, and seamless integration with Apple services, offering a privacy-focused alternative to proprietary note apps.
Overview
Fast Markdown note-taking app for Mac and iPhone
Use Cases
Best For
- Managing large collections of Markdown notes with 10,000+ files
- Syncing notes between macOS and iOS via iCloud or Dropbox
- Writing technical documentation with code syntax highlighting
- Creating encrypted notes or folders for sensitive information
- Linking related notes using wiki-style [[double brackets]]
- Editing notes externally in preferred text editors with live sync
Not Ideal For
- Teams requiring cross-platform access on Windows or Android devices
- Workflows needing built-in real-time collaboration like co-editing or commenting
- Users preferring WYSIWYG rich-text editors over Markdown syntax
Pros & Cons
Pros
Native support for Markdown and plaintext files with syntax highlighting for over 30 programming languages, ideal for technical documentation and code snippets.
Optimized to handle 10,000+ files smoothly, ensuring fast navigation and editing even with extensive note collections.
Seamlessly syncs notes across macOS and iOS using iCloud Drive or Dropbox, providing reliable cloud synchronization without proprietary lock-in.
Offers AES-256 encryption for notes and folders, plus optional Git integration for version control and backups, enhancing data security.
Cons
Only available for macOS and iOS, excluding users on other platforms like Windows or Android, which limits team compatibility.
Lacks built-in real-time co-editing or commenting, making it unsuitable for collaborative note-taking without external tools.
Minimal visual styling options and reliance on Markdown syntax can be a barrier for non-technical users accustomed to rich text editors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Projects
joplinJoplin - the privacy-focused note taking app with sync capabilities for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS.
BoostnoteThis repository is outdated and new Boost Note app is available! We've launched a new Boost Note app which supports real-time collaborative writing. https://github.com/BoostIO/BoostNote-App
NotesnookA fully open source & end-to-end encrypted note taking alternative to Evernote.
Standard NotesThink fearlessly with end-to-end encrypted notes and files. For issues, visit https://standardnotes.com/forum or https://standardnotes.com/help.
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